Skip to content
Cura x Cura

Sang Ju Yin桑菊饮

Mulberry Leaf & Chrysanthemum Drink

Releasing the Exterior 解表剂Release Wind-Heat 辛凉解表

Ingredients8 herbs

桑Sang Ye桑叶7.5g君 ChiefCools and vents Lung-channel wind-heat菊Ju Hua菊花3g君 ChiefAssists venting, clears head and eyes杏Xing Ren杏仁6g臣 DeputyDescends Lung qi, stops cough连Lian Qiao连翘5g佐 AssistantClears heat, relieves toxin薄Bo He薄荷2.5g臣 DeputyAssists venting the exterior
苦Jie Geng苦桔梗6g臣 DeputyDiffuses the Lung — paired lifting with Xing Ren's descent
生Gan Cao生甘草2.5g使 EnvoyHarmonizes
苇Lu Gen苇根6g佐 AssistantGenerates fluids, relieves thirst

Indications

Releases wind-heat with acrid coolnessDiffuses the Lung, stops cough

Early-stage wind-warmth: the pathogen sits in the Lung collaterals, cough foremost, heat signs mild. The lightest of the acrid-cool releases — its dose and decoction time are deliberately small.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Early wind-heat cough
  • Slight fever, mild thirst
  • Early-stage upper-respiratory presentations
TongueThin white coating, tip slightly red
PulseFloating and rapid

Health Categories

Respiratory HealthCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Common cold (early)CoughMild fever

Common adjustments

  • Heat advancing into the qi level — add Shi Gao 石膏, Zhi Mu 知母
  • Thick yellow sputum — add Gua Lou 瓜蒌, Huang Qin 黄芩

Contraindications

Too light for wind-cold (chills, no thirst, white coat) and too mild once heat is established — escalate the strategy as the pattern deepens.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Generally compatible — practitioner judgment applies

References

Source Wen Bing Tiao Bian 《温病条辨》 · Qing dynasty

「太阴风温，但咳，身不甚热，微渴者，辛凉轻剂桑菊饮主之。」
— 《温病条辨 · 上焦篇》(classical source, public domain)
  1. Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
    2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
    3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.